Savage shares West Ham United verdict as Lopetegui clings on
Robbie Savage believed West Ham United would be challenging for Europe after spending big in the summer transfer window.
The former Wales midfielder had hoped the Hammers would do better than they have this season after Tim Steidten splashed the cash on reinforcements.
Julen Lopetegui has been under pressure as the Irons sit in the bottom half of the Premier League table, but the Spanish manager has managed to pull results “out of the hat” to survive the sack.
Writing in the Mirror (27 December), Savage said: “After spending big in the summer, I thought they would do better and challenge for a return to Europe.
“Every time new manager Julen Lopetegui appears to be on the ropes, he pulls a big result out of the hat, but I expect more of the Hammers in the second half of the campaign.”
Julen Lopetegui has failed at West Ham United
While the Hammers aren’t in danger of being relegated, Lopetegui certainly needs to answer many questions after the poor performances.
The Irons have won just six fixtures in the English top flight this term, which is unacceptable for the London Stadium faithful.
With the addition of Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Max Kilman, Jean-Clair Todibo, Guido Rodriguez, Crysencio Summerville and Niclas Fullkrug, the East London club were expected to challenge the big guns in the league.
West Ham have struggled to even compete with some of the weaker opposition, barely getting the three points in the 1-0 victory over Southampton on Boxing Day.
The former Wolves manager has failed to implement his style at the Hammers, and the fans want David Sullivan to pull the plug on his tenure.
With 11 points separating the Irons and fourth-place Nottingham Forest, a European spot isn’t out of reach, but Lopetegui will have to do something special to achieve that.
In other West Ham news, Arne Slot’s admission almost confirms Mohammed Kudus’s exit.
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